Experienced Nottingham Forest duo told they can leave in January as Karanka wields axe

Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka has given the green light for captain Ben Watson and fellow midfielder Liam Bridcutt to leave the City Ground in the January transfer window, according to Football Insider.

Nottingham Forest skipper Ben Watson and Liam Bridcutt have both been told they can pursue options elsewhere when the January transfer window opens. Manager Aitor Karanka is wielding the axe on players who will not feature in his long term plans, and midfielders Watson and Bridcutt look to be the first out of the door.

Even as the captain, former Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson has failed to keep his place in the first team, and hasn’t featured in the last four games as Forest have gone four games without a loss. 30-year-old midfielder Watson has only been at Nottingham Forest a matter of months, but his brief spell with the Championship side looks set to come to an end early on after failing to make an impression on Karanka.

Meanwhile, midfielder Liam Bridcutt has hardly featured at all. The Scotland international has played on four occasions in all competitions, with three of those appearances coming in the EFL Cup and just one in the Championship. Former Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Bridcutt joined Forest from Championship rivals Leeds United last summer, but his stay at the City Ground looks set to come to an end, with Aitor Karanka seeing no place for him in his squad.

The move opens up more space in Karanka’s squad, as he looks to bring in a more attack minded midfielder in the January transfer window, as he feels he already has enough defensive midfielders at his disposal.